Teaching Trauma-sensitive Yoga: A Practical Guide

Canadian Forces veteran turned yoga teacher Brendon Abram combines his first-hand experience with PTSD in the field and years of teaching to offer this practical guide to bringing trauma-sensitive yoga to both clinical and studio settings.

Drawing on his work with military veterans, first responders, and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, Abram emphasizes the importance of respecting the uniqueness of every individual, and demonstrates how to use the foundational principles of yoga to create a safe experience.

He explains that basic principles of yoga bring power to the practice and that breath, mindful movement, focused awareness, and acceptance of present moment experience form the foundation of any yoga offering, including trauma-sensitive yoga.

He describes approaches to trauma sensitive yoga for both the clinical population and the general population in a studio setting, and delineates the differences between the two.